Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-07-09
THE FOURTH AT PIZEN SWITCH.
Base Ball, Horse Racing, Dancing
and Fireworks.

Everybody within radius Of fifty miles
attended the Fourth Of July celebration at
Pizen Switch, and it is safe to say enjoyed
themselves as we'll, If not better, than if they
had gone to Reno, Carson or Virginia City.
The day was fine one, though little warm.
On the morning of the Fourth the slumbers
OF sluggish sleepers were aroused by the
booming of anvils, and by noon everybody
was thoroughly awakened. A programme
of amusements had been arranged, and early
in the afternoon the base ball game, which
was first on the programme, took place The
Wabuska and Greenfield mines were the con-
testants for the purse, and after an exciting
game Of nine innings the Greenfield boys
walked away with the prize, having won by
a score Of II to ID.
Next came the horse races. The first race
was half mile and repeat. Johnson and
Holland were the only ones who had horses
| entered in this race, and Johnson's horse
came in several lengths ahead, apparently
an easy winner. The next race was 4 quar-.
ter mile dash in which Joe Downey entered
buckskin horse and Sam Purcell two bay
horses. One of Purcell's horses named Wild
Bill won the heat and money.
A footrace, distance 100 yards, was the
next attraction. AL Cummings, Ed Dunn,
Jim Downey, J. Sweat, Jim Meadows. Chester
Holland, Paul Ames and Orry Whiting en-
To- ~. r.. -,
Cummings, who developed some good run
ning qualities. He came in about IS yards
ahead.
The sack race created considerable amuse.
ment Parker, Rano, Dunn, Kenney and
Holland entered for this race, and it was
| won by Ramo amid the cheers OF the crowd
The wind up race, free for all. I2s yards.
was then announced. Several Plutes entered
this race but they were badly beaten by near
ly all the white boys who entered. Whiting
won the race, and then annouced that he
could beat any man in Greenfield 100 yards
for money, chalk or popcorn, hoping by this
banter to get up race with Cummings, bu,
he did not succeed. BY this time it wa,
nearly dark and it was noticed that people
were making preparations for the dance.
AS soon as the bright moon had been sui
fcient.y obscured by clouds the hrework:
were set off, There was an endless variety
Of roman candles, skyrockets. pinwheels
etc., and Two paper balloons were sent up
The display was beautiful, and was eagerly
watched by an interested crowd Of specta
! tors.
Between nine and ten o'clock the music il
the hall began, and from that time until mid
night, when the weather began to grow ceole
! continuous string Of people were seen flock
, ing to the dance. There were old men ane
, matronly women, young married men anc
their wives, swans with their swee thcarts
and all were on the dance. Supper wa
served at midnight, and it was feast TT 70
the gods. 1t is useless to try and .describ
il. Everybody knows that things are neve
done in halfway manner at Craig's Hotel
and that is enough said The music furnish
ed by Mr.. Ranger and his wife was delight
full. 1t pleased everybody, even those VIII
did no, dance. This was evidenced by tn,
fact that the party did not break up unit
about half past 5 o'clock in the morning.
, Taking it all in all there was probably no
a better time had by any one in the Stat,
than those who attended the Greenfield eel
. ebration. No accidents occurred, there wer,
no disturbances to amount to anything anc
altogether it is believed that Pizen had jus
the best little Fourth Of July blowout Of any
town in the State, big or little.